Behind the mountain gate was a hill the shape of a bun, with a stone stairway leading upwards. Buddhist halls were s.p.a.ced out here and then along the way. The houses by the sides were for residence. The tallest Buddhist hall was the loftiest and most majestic. Gazing up from under it, it gave one the impression it was a celestial edifice erected in mid-air, both mysterious and awe-inspiring.

The entire Emei Sect was situated on this hill. Its layout was clever and even without using the Soil-seeking Inkstone, Ning Tao could tell there was a spiritual vein underneath it.

In fengshui, a dragon vein was the rarest and most precious terrain in this world, but the spiritual vein of the pract.i.tioners' world greatly surpa.s.sed it. Only a major cultivation sect like Emei could occupy this rare, blessed plot of land. If a small sect with modest forces were to occupy it, they would have all been slain.

However, the spiritual vein beneath this hill was already weakening. One could know this from the straggling spiritual energy in the air. Although there was spiritual energy in this place, it was spa.r.s.e. In some areas, it could not be detected at all―a sign that the spiritual vein was waning.

Ning Tao mounted the stairs, proceeding at a measured pace. He seemed to be enjoying the scenery as he climbed the steps.

Cixin caught up with him. “Doctor Ning, please wait.”

Ning Tao who had just mounted a few stone steps stopped, turning back to look at Cixin. Not only had Cixin caught up with him, so had Ci'en and her large company of nuns.

Ning Tao said, “Didn't I break through your sword array? If you insist on me staying in that thatched hut, I would rather not. I would leave at once.”

Cixin halted her steps just before Ning Tao. She seemed a little nervous. “No, Senior Sister Ci'en wants me to prepare a room for you. Come with me.”

Ning Tao turned his eyes to Ci'en.

Ci'en avoided Ning Tao's eyes and shook her hossu. She raised a palm vertically. “Amitabha.”

Ning Tao did not want to argue with her. She was, after all, only following the instructions of Reverend Miexin. He nodded and went off with Cixin.

For him, breaking through the sword array was not difficult at all. Getting past Reverend Miexin was the difficult part. Could he take those skull fragments from her hands and unravel the mystery of Zhu Hongyu's death? He was not confident at all he could succeed.

Cixin led Ning Tao midway up the bun-shaped hill. Then she brought him to a row of houses. These were the nuns' quarters. Nun's habits and underpants were being sunned in the yard in front of these houses. He did not see any bras. They made their own clothes themselves after all. They could not have purchased spongy bras like secular women. He did see a white strip of cloth and believed that it might have been their equivalent of a bra.

A group of young nuns was in the corridor, staring at Ning Tao and chattering with one other. Their eyes were all full of curiosity. Not every one of these nuns could visit the outside world. Ning Tao might be the first man they had seen for years.

This group of nuns was watching Ning Tao unabashedly, but Ning Tao felt a little uncomfortable. He avoided their eyes. These nuns were all young and pretty, but his heart harbored no improper thoughts. This was a Buddhist sacred ground, so he must not have any indecent ideas.

Cixin brought Ning Tao to the door of a room and said, “Doctor Ning, you will live in this room. You can go in first and take a look. I will bring you some new blanket and bedding.”

Ning Tao nodded, but wondered secretly in his heart, “They can't be testing me again, can they? There are so many rooms in Emei Sect. I don't believe they can't find me an isolated room to live in. Why are they putting me in the nuns' quarters?”

Cixin opened the door and walked in.

Ning Tao eyed the chattering nuns in the corridor from the corner of his eyes. He was really curious about what they were chattering. Were they regarding him as a monkey from the circus?

Ci'en left with her company of nuns. They must presumably be off to see Reverend Miexin, to report on the situation.

Ning Tao also entered the room.

The room was not large, about ten square meters in size. There were a wooden bed and a small table by the window with a matching stool. There was also a small wooden wardrobe which had not been painted. It looked quite worn.

Cixin deftly stacked the blanket and bedding and rolled them up in a rug. She carried them in her arms, taking them away.

Ning Tao tried to probe. “Um, when can I see Reverend Miexin?”

Cixin said, “I don't know either. I asked Senior Sister Cixin along the way. She said she must first report to our Master. Our Master must first inform us when you can visit her. Don't be too anxious. Just stay here for the time being. You will get to meet her.”

Ning Tao said, “Very well, I will settle down here and wait for your Master to see me. But…”

Cixin stared at Ning Tao, her large black eyes blinking. “But what?”

Ning Tao said, “Don't you have any other room here? I mean, a separate yard for me to live alone.”

Cixin pursed her lips and started to t.i.tter. “There is no such place here. This is the Emei Sect, so of course there will be women around. You have to bear with it.”

“How many nuns are there in Emei Sect?” Ning Tao asked again.

Cixin thought for a while before answering, “There must be around five to six hundred. But we don't have as many rooms. Many of our sisters stay together in the same room.”

“So many?” Ning Tao was rather surprised.

Cixin smiled. “I know why you are so surprised. There aren't so many pract.i.tioners in our Emei Sect. Most of our sisters are ordinary nuns of the cloister. They came from every region in the country and are all orphans. Each year, some of our sisters would go out to experience life outside. If they see any smart orphans, they will bring them back and raise them. They will be taught to meditate as Buddhists. Of course, we only accept girls here, not boys. Normally, men aren't allowed in here. If it weren't for Master wanting to mend her flying sword, you wouldn't be here.”

Ning Tao seemed enlightened. “I see. It's okay then.”

When he heard Cixin mentioned five to six hundred nuns, Ning Tao was really taken aback. Five to six hundred nuns would const.i.tute a mighty force. Every nation outnumbered in war would suffer a headache. After hearing Cixin's explanation, he accepted his situation. Emei Sect was still primarily a sect for ordinary nuns. There were pract.i.tioners, but they made up only a very small proportion. After all, not everyone could become a pract.i.tioner.

If only it were so easy to change one's life and become pract.i.tioners, Ning Tao would have converted Ge Ming and Su Ya. There was no difficulty turning them into demons. But he was cultivating the ways of Heaven and could not do that, even for Jiang Hao. He had cured her demonic illness and saved her life, but he did not turn her into a demon. If he were to turn Ge Ming and Su Ya into demons, his cultivation would be ruined. The good-evil tripod might not cure their demonic illnesses and would want their lives instead!

“When one is alive, Heaven watches over our deeds. Some deeds must never be committed. One will be condemned by Heaven if one does them.”

All these were the laments Ning Tao felt at that time. They soon disappeared in a flash.

Cixin left with the blanket and bedding. Before she left the room, she said politely to Ning Tao, “Doctor Ning, please take a rest. I will come once I find you some new blanket and bed sheets.”

Ning Tao also thanked her politely. “Sorry to trouble you.”

After Cixin left, Ning Tao shut the door. He instinctively wanted to take out his cell phone and report his safe arrival to Jiang Hao and Qing Zhui. Then he realized his cell phone had been confiscated by Ci'en. He studied the room, and then bit his finger until it bled. He leaped up the rafter and drew a blood lock there.

Knock, knock, knock.

There were knockings on the door.

Ning Tao frantically leaped down the rafter and patted off the dust on his hands. Then he opened the door.

At the door stood a group of young nuns, all staring at him straight. Their eyes resembled those of girls who had first set eyes on monkeys in a circus.

Ning Tao was made uncomfortable by this group of staring nuns. He asked awkwardly, “Young reverends, is anything the matter?”

“Ahem.” A young nun who looked in her early 20s coughed drily, pretending to be old. “Patron, where… are you from?”

Ning Tao said, “I came from the outside.”

The nun wrinkled her brows. “I know you are from outside. I ask you from where. Where is your native home? Do you get it?”

Ning Tao smiled. “I am a native of Shan City in Shu Province. I now reside in Beidu.”

The nun shook her head. “Shan City? Never heard of it. I don't know where my hometown is either.” When she said this, her expression became somewhat downcast.

“I can't remember where my native home is either. I only vaguely remember… a big yard, a river in front of our gate, and ducks in the river,” a nun said.

“I remember heavy snow in my house. Thick, thick snow… ”

The company of young nuns started chatting and reminiscing about their “native home”. Ning Tao was now an accessory, a mere outlet for chit-chat.

Ning Tao could understand them. Which person wouldn't miss home? To return to one's ancestral home was a conviction deep in everyone's blood of Hua Country. After working outside, one would miss home more and more. But these nuns were all orphans and had come here as naive girls. Even if they were to miss their families or native homes, they could do nothing about it.

“What has the outside world turned into?” The nun who was their leader asked again.

Ning Tao thought for a while before answering, “The outside world is filthy and messy. There are many swindlers and unscrupulous businessmen out there. The water in the ditch is murky and fetid. The residences of men are like bird cages. Many people only yearn for a house to sleep in. In short, it cannot compare with your sect. I envy you nuns living in this place which is like paradise.”

“Is the outside world so bad?” That nun seemed disappointed.

Ning Tao sighed. “Some places are worse than I have described. But the worst is in men's hearts. Many people nowadays are wicked.”

“Oh dear, to think that I wanted to see the outside world. I might as well not,” that nun said.

Another nun said, “You're really pitiful. Stay a few days more here and tell us about the outside world.”

Ning Tao merely smiled without replying them. The outside world was certainly not as bad as he had described, but he had lied out of goodwill. If he were to paint the outside world in dazzling colors, these young nuns would yearn to leave. They were living a secluded existence and were pure as cygnets. If they happened to encounter the big mire outside, they would come back caked in filth and mud!

“Why are you crowding around here? Go and do your homework!” Ci'en's voice rang out, reprimanding them very harshly.

The company of nuns instantly dispersed.

Ci'en and Cixin walked over. Cixin was carrying a brand-new blanket and bed sheets in her arms.

Ci'en said, “Doctor Ning, please come with me. Master wishes to see you.”

“Alright. Please lead the way,” Ning Tao said.

Cixin, on the other hand, entered Ning Tao's room to make his bed.